Territory of Orleans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Territory of Orleans
Organized incorporated territory of the United States
1804–1812
The Territory of Orleans in 1805
Government
• Type	Organized incorporated territory
Governor
• 1804–1812	William C. C. Claiborne
Secretary
• 1804–1807	James Brown
• 1807–1811	Thomas Bolling Robertson
History
• Established	1 October 1804
• Statehood	30 April 1812
Preceded by Succeeded by Louisiana Purchase Republic of West Florida Louisiana
Today part of	United States

The Territory of Orleans was a special area of the United States that existed from October 1, 1804, to April 30, 1812. It was created after the Louisiana Purchase and later became the State of Louisiana. This territory was an "organized incorporated territory," which means it was set up by the U.S. government with its own laws and was expected to eventually become a state.

How the Territory of Orleans Began

In 1804, the United States bought a huge area of land from France, known as the Louisiana Purchase. This land was then divided. The part south of the 33rd parallel (an imaginary line of latitude) became the Orleans Territory. The rest of the land became the District of Louisiana.

Later, the District of Louisiana was renamed the Louisiana Territory. When the Orleans Territory became the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Territory was then renamed the Missouri Territory.

Setting Up the Government

On March 26, 1804, a law called the Organic Act was passed. This law created the Orleans Territory and set up its government. It also created a special court, the United States District Court for the District of Orleans. This court had the same power as courts in the states, which was very unusual for a territory.

The law also created the Superior Court for the Territory of Orleans. This court had three judges and was the highest court in the territory.

Organizing the Land

On April 10, 1805, the leaders of the territory divided it into 12 counties. These counties helped organize the growing population. They were: Orleans, LaFourche, German Coast, Acadia, Iberville, Attakapas, Pointe Coupée, Opelousas, Rapides, Concordia, Natchitoches, and Ouachita.

Borders and Neighbors

The area known today as the Florida Parishes, located east of the Mississippi River, was not part of the Orleans Territory at first. This land belonged to Spain as part of West Florida. The U.S. took control of this area in 1810, and it officially became part of the territory on April 14, 1812. Spain did not fully give up its claim until 1821.

The western border with Spanish Texas was also unclear for a while. It was finally set by the Adams–Onís Treaty in 1819. Before that, a strip of land near the Sabine River was a neutral zone called the Sabine Free State. It acted as a buffer between U.S. and Spanish lands from about 1807 until the treaty was finalized.

Important Events

The Orleans Territory was the location of the largest slave revolt in American history. This event, known as the 1811 German Coast Uprising, happened in 1811.

Population Growth

The 1810 United States census counted the people living in the Orleans Territory. Here's how many people lived in each of the 20 parishes at that time:

Key Leaders and Representatives

The Orleans Territory had several important leaders who helped govern the area.

Governors and Secretaries

William C. C. Claiborne was appointed as the Governor of the Orleans Territory. He served in this role for the entire time the territory existed, from 1804 to 1812. After the territory became a state, he became the first Governor of Louisiana.

The territory also had two Secretaries:

• James Brown (1804–1807)
• Thomas B. Robertson (1807–1811)

The Secretary's job was to keep records and help the Governor manage the territory.

Representatives in Congress

Daniel Clark was the first Territorial Delegate to the U.S. Congress. He started in December 1806. A delegate could speak in Congress and propose laws, but they could not vote.

Judges of the Territory

The territory had a U.S. District Judge, Dominic Augustin Hall. This judge handled federal cases in the territory.

The Superior Court, the highest court in the territory, had several judges over the years:

• John Bartow Prevost (1804–1808)
• Ephraim Kirby (1804) (He passed away on his way to New Orleans.)
• Peter Stephen Du Ponceau (1804) (He turned down the job offered by President Thomas Jefferson.)
• William Sprigg (1805–1807)
• George Mathews, Jr. (1805–1813)
• Joshua Lewis (1807–1813)
• Francois Xavier Martin (1810–1813)

Legislative Council Members

The territory also had a Legislative Council, which helped make laws. At its first meeting on December 3, 1804, the council members were:

• Julien de Lallande Poydras
• William Kenner
• John Watkins
• William Wikoff
• Benjamin Morgan
• Eugene Dorcier
• George Pollock

Images for kids

• 

  Colonial map showing territorial border on the Ouachita River

See also

In Spanish: Territorio de Orleans para niños